22.250 a.o.l.

I am trying to set up my 12fv 22.250 55grn v-max. When I use the a.o.l. gauge I get 2.470 from base to tip. When I use the comparator with my calipers zero I get 2.086. I am planning to go .040 off the lands to start (2.046). I am a little stumped. I am wondering with the use of the comparator should I forget the base to tip measurements, and use comparator measurements as points of reference? I also plan to use H380 starting at 35grns and work my way up. Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated.

The only thing I use the base to tip measurement for is to see if the cartridge will fit in the magizine. Other then that it's always base to ogive. A much more consistant measurement.

I shoot Sierra 55gr Blitz Kings and my OAL to ogive is 2.095 which is .005 off the lands. My gun, a Savage Predator in 22-250 shoots best between .000 and .005 off the lands. SD and ES are also extremly low when I load this close.

I load 37.1 of RL15, CCI BR2's and am getting 3725fps w/ES at 12 and SD of 6.9 This from the 22" barrel on the Predator.

Good luck,

Cover Dog

Sacrifice a case, full length re-size it, take a Dremmel tool with a fine cut off wheel and split the neck to the shoulder. Insert a bullet of choice and carefully chamber it. If the bullet is too loose pinch the neck slightly. The lands (if you can reach them) will re-seat the bullet. Carefully remove and measure COAL. When removing the dummy cartridge support the case with your finger against the ejector tension to keep the bullet from dragging against the chamber when removing it. Repeat until you get consistent readings.

You can also use this method to monitor throat wear over time if you keep the exact SAME bullet.

Note that this method is not perfect as bullets in the same box do vary in length, but it is very useful none the less.

Keith

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cover Dog

The only thing I use the base to tip measurement for is to see if the cartridge will fit in the magizine. Other then that it's always base to ogive. A much more consistant measurement.

---

+1 The tips often vary slightly in size, and only need to be measured to fit in a mag. The ogive measurement with the comparator is much more constant.

I use 55gr vmax and H380 in mine also, and mine really liked 36.5gr and 39gr loads. H380 is really temp sensitive though. I went with the 36.5gr because the 39gr would have a hard bolt lift if i had the bullets in the sun too long while prarie dog hunting. I now have a bunch of RL15 to try with it, and is really what I want to use for it.

I'm using the 50 gr Vmax and 40.0 gr of H380 with a Fed match primer. I use a magic marker to color the bullet, then insert the cartridge in the chamber with the bullet seated long, and slowly seat the bullet deeper until I don't get any marks in the ink from the lands. I write that oal down and start 10 thousanths in from there.

All the above interesting!

I have a FVSS 22-250 and I loaded some 52gr Bergers last weekend.

When I measured my bullet with the Hornady COAL guage, I wouldn't have had enough of the bullet in the case to stay in! I ended up going with the loading manual specs.

I also ran into the same loading 55gr bullets in my 243! Again, just the small bullets, 70gr and up are no problem.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dennis

All the above interesting!

I have a FVSS 22-250 and I loaded some 52gr Bergers last weekend.

When I measured my bullet with the Hornady COAL guage, I wouldn't have had enough of the bullet in the case to stay in! I ended up going with the loading manual specs.

I also ran into the same loading 55gr bullets in my 243! Again, just the small bullets, 70gr and up are no problem.

---

that's funny! i have seen that savage factory barrels have long throats? maybe a safety thing? if i seat to the lands my bullet falls out ! that sucks! i am so far off the lands to fit to the mag? any ideas?

I just checked my stevens 22-250 and it was showing 2.113" to the lands with a 50g prvi soft point. I set them to 2.090" for .023" jump and it left roughly .100" inside the case neck.

I also have a H&R single shot 22-250 it measures 2.072 with the same bullet.

Also using the headspace kit the stevens get hard to close on an empty case at about 1.564-.565 where as my single shot will tolerate up to about 1.572"-.573"

On the base to tip length I'm getting 2.405" and is running with .001"-.002" checking them randomly.Not too bad i guess for a cheap bullet.